Page 40 of Rather: The Therapist

A pregnant pause paralyzed me. And, then, finally, there she was.

“Yes, Mr. Valentine.”

Rose’s neglect was too fresh of a wound to let go of at the moment. Maybe I would one day, but that day wasn’t today.

Not because I was afraid of rejection, but because I didn’t believe for once I was being rejected. Rose would be back. I just didn’t have the audacity to keep waiting.

“Where is she?”

With a sigh, she responded,” Who?”

Cameras were plentiful. They knew almost every move we made. Who we were fucking. And, how much we fucked them.

They didn’t have eyes in the suite, but I’d be damned if they didn’t know what was going on in them.

“I’m no fool, Ursula, and neither are you. Where is she?”

“We don’t keep tabs on our guests outside of the establishment.”

“Then, who is she? Tell me so I can keep tabs on her my motherfucking self.”

“I’m afraid I can’t.”

She wasn’t saying shit I wanted to hear. The privacy and safety of guests were their priorities. I got that shit, but I didn’t give a fuck about the rules, the waivers, the clauses, and nothing else right now.

“How much?” I bribed.

“Mr. Valentine.”

“How much?”

“I’m sorry. I– I wish I could, but I can’t.”

Blowing out a thick stream of air from my nose, I shook my head.

“You can’t, or you won’t, Ursula? Because, there’s a big fucking difference, baby.”

“Mr. Valentine, it’s against our policies. I understand your frustrations, but our rules and regulations were clear. I even went over them before you stepped foot inside your suite. Again, I wish I could. I really do, but I can’t.”

She was doing her job. Denying me was what she was paid to do and I couldn’t blame her. But, I’d be damned if I ended the night the same way I’d started it.

I’d continue the wait, but it would be on my terms. And, when I finally caught up to Rose, she’d better hope her beauty made me forget her disobedience, because it was as maddening as she was.

“Well, what can you do?”

“Anything within these walls except give you her information.”

“Put her suite on my tab. Leave it running for as long as it takes her to return. And, when she does, call me. Call every fucking number on the extensive ass file you have on me. If those don’t work, start sending emails.”

Frustrated with her absence, I snatched open the door of my car just as Ursula responded. The only thing keeping me from undoing everything my time alone in the suite had done tonight was the fact that Clarke was never too big to find anyone I was searching for.

And, the girl with the birthmark between her index finger and thumb was on my radar. Her. Her pussy. Her presence. Her passion. I needed that shit in my life. All of it, even if only through the night.

“As you wish.”

ONE

Two years later…

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